Here. There.

Road Trip Through the Deep South

There will always be something about the south that makes me happy. Here are a few of those somethings:

Barbecue and sweet tea in Jackson, Mississippi.

The sight of the big, open waters of Mobile Bay in Mobile, Alabama.

Manatees.

Palm trees.

Publix subs, if I’m being honest here. (And I am, considering we went to Publix for dinner on the night we arrived in Crystal River, Florida. THEN we checked into our hotel. And I ate Publix subs four times in three days.)

Driving across three major bridges in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, because that’s the only way to get around.

Being chased out of the ocean by lightning and rainstorms, only to decide to come back first thing the next day. Also, no shark attacks! (Did you know there’s an app for that?)

Spanish moss and the sweet, sickly smell of candy shops, paper mills, and river traffic in Savannah, Georgia.

Crossing the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee, after watching Fourth of July fireworks from our hotel beds.

Kudzu forests that can be seen from the interstate throughout Arkansas.

An Old Florida/Cracker Florida landscape – Homosassa Springs, Fla.

A manatee in Crystal River, Fla.

Taken from the underwater observation dock in Homosassa Springs. The permanent damage on both of her flippers was caused by entangled fishing lines.

Morning at Peter’s Point Beach on Amelia Island, Fla.

Majestic old oak trees at Johnson Square in Savannah, Ga.

River Street at night in Savannah.

Johnson Square. Memorials. Live oaks. Bliss.

Looking across the Mississippi River into Arkansas from downtown Memphis, Tenn.